A man was violently attacked and robbed by a group of men outside Sef’s Steakhouse in Cheltenham early on March 13. The victim, who is from London, managed to flag down a passing police officer on patrol along College Road around 2:20 a.m., visibly shaken from the assault.
The incident occurred near Imperial Square shortly before 2 a.m., at a time when the town center was still bustling with racegoers attending the Cheltenham Festival. The victim reported that five males confronted him, repeatedly punching him in the face before demanding his phone and wallet, which contained bank cards.
Although the victim sustained minor facial injuries, he did not require medical attention. Following the attack, the assailants split into two groups and fled the area. Police quickly responded, locating four suspects in a nearby off-licence along with the victim’s stolen phone and bank cards, which officers believed were about to be used fraudulently.
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In total, seven men from the London area were apprehended on suspicion of actual bodily harm (ABH) and robbery. All have since been released on bail as the investigation continues. The stolen items were recovered and returned to the victim.
A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson praised the swift action of the responding officer and CCTV operators, noting that all suspects were located and arrested within twenty minutes of the attack.